Semiconductor Device and Method of Manufacturing a Semiconductor Device

ABSTRACT

A semiconductor device includes a transistor, formed in a semiconductor substrate having a first main surface. The transistor includes a channel region, doped with dopants of a first conductivity type, a source region, a drain region, the source and the drain region being doped with dopants of a second conductivity type different from the first conductivity type, a drain extension region, and a gate electrode adjacent to the channel region. The channel region is disposed in a first portion of a ridge. The drain extension region is disposed in a second portion of the ridge, and includes a core portion doped with the first conductivity type. The drain extension region further includes a cover portion doped with the second conductivity type, the cover portion being adjacent to at least one or two sidewalls of the second portion of the ridge.

BACKGROUND

MOS power transistors or MOS power devices, which are commonly employedin automotive and industrial electronics, should have a low switch-onresistance (R_(on)), when being switched on. In a switch-off state, theyshould have a high breakdown voltage characteristic and withstand highsource-drain voltages. Further, attempts are being made to reduce thecapacitances, in particular, the gate-drain capacitance between the gateelectrode and the drain electrode.

SUMMARY

According to an embodiment, a semiconductor device comprises atransistor, formed in a semiconductor substrate having a first mainsurface. The transistor includes a channel region doped with dopants ofa first conductivity type, a source region, and a drain region. Thesource region and the drain region are doped with dopants of a secondconductivity type different from the first conductivity type. Thetransistor further comprises a drain extension region, and a gateelectrode adjacent to the channel region. The channel region is disposedin a first portion of a ridge, and the drain extension region isdisposed in a second portion of the ridge. The drain extension regioncomprises a core portion doped with the first conductivity type. Thedrain extension region further comprises a cover portion doped with thesecond conductivity type, the cover portion being adjacent to at leastone or two sidewalls of the second portion of the ridge.

According to a further embodiment, a semiconductor device comprises atransistor formed in a ridge formed in a first main surface of asemiconductor substrate. The transistor includes a channel region of afirst conductivity type in at least a part of the ridge, and a drainextension region disposed in another part of the ridge, the drainextension region comprising a core portion of the first conductivitytype and a cover portion of a second conductivity type, the coverportion being disposed at least at one or two sidewalls of the ridge.The transistor further comprises a source region and a drain region ofthe second conductivity type, and a gate structure disposed to opposingsidewalls of the ridge. The channel region and the drain extensionregion are disposed along a first direction between the source regionand the drain region, the first direction being parallel to the firstmain surface.

According to a further embodiment, a semiconductor device comprises atransistor, formed in a semiconductor substrate having a first mainsurface. The transistor includes a channel region doped with dopants ofa first conductivity type, a source region, and a drain region. Thesource region and the drain region are doped with dopants of a secondconductivity type different from the first conductivity type. Thetransistor further comprises a gate electrode adjacent to the channelregion, the channel region being disposed in a first portion of a ridge.The source region is disposed in a further portion of the ridge,adjacent to the channel region, wherein the source region is disposedadjacent to at least one of a top side and two sidewalls of the furtherportion of the ridge, and a core portion of the further portion of theridge is doped with dopants of the first conductivity type and forms abody contact path.

According to an embodiment, a method of manufacturing a semiconductordevice comprises forming a transistor in a semiconductor substrate, thesemiconductor substrate having a first main surface. Forming thetransistor comprises forming a ridge including a first ridge portion anda second ridge portion in the semiconductor substrate, the ridgeextending along the first direction. The method further comprisesforming a source region, a drain region, a channel region, a drainextension region and a gate electrode adjacent to the channel region inthe ridge. The method further comprises doping the channel region withdopants of a first conductivity type, and doping the source and thedrain region with dopants of a second conductivity type. Forming thedrain extension region comprises forming a core portion doped with thefirst conductivity type in the second ridge portion. Forming the drainextension region further comprises forming a cover portion doped withthe second conductivity type, the cover layer being formed so as to beadjacent to at least one or two sidewalls of the second ridge portion.

According to an embodiment, a semiconductor device comprises atransistor, formed in a semiconductor substrate having a first mainsurface. The transistor includes a channel region, doped with dopants ofa first conductivity type, a source region, and a drain region. Thesource region and the drain region are doped with dopants of a secondconductivity type different from the first conductivity type. Thetransistor further comprises a drain extension region, a gate electrodeadjacent to the channel region and a field plate adjacent to the drainextension region. The channel region is disposed in a first portion of aridge and the drain extension region is disposed in a second portion ofthe ridge.

Those skilled in the art will recognize additional features andadvantages upon reading the following detailed description and onviewing the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying drawings are included to provide a furtherunderstanding of the invention and are incorporated in and constitute apart of this specification. The drawings illustrate the embodiments ofthe present invention and together with the description serve to explainprinciples of the invention. Other embodiments of the invention andintended advantages will be readily appreciated as they become betterunderstood by reference to the following detailed description.

FIG. 1A shows a perspective view a of elements of a semiconductor deviceaccording to an embodiment;

FIG. 1B shows a cross-sectional view of a semiconductor device in aplane parallel to a first main surface of the substrate;

FIG. 1C to 1G show further cross-sectional views of a semiconductordevice according to an embodiment;

FIG. 2A shows a perspective view of elements of a semiconductor deviceaccording to a further embodiment;

FIG. 2B shows a cross-sectional view of the semiconductor device in aplane parallel to the first main surface of the semiconductor substrate;

FIGS. 2C to 2F show further cross-sectional views of a semiconductordevice according to an embodiment;

FIG. 2G shows a perspective view of elements of a semiconductor deviceaccording to a further embodiment;

FIG. 3 shows a perspective view of a semiconductor device according to afurther embodiment;

FIGS. 4A to 4J illustrate a method for manufacturing a semiconductordevice according to an embodiment;

FIG. 5 illustrates a cross-sectional view of a semiconductor device whenemploying the method of manufacturing a semiconductor device accordingto a further embodiment;

FIG. 6 illustrates a modification of the method illustrated in FIG. 4;

FIGS. 7A to 7C illustrate parts of a further method of manufacturing asemiconductor device;

FIG. 8 illustrates a semiconductor device according to a furtherembodiment;

FIG. 9 shows a flowchart illustrating a method of manufacturing asemiconductor device;

FIG. 10 shows a simulation result of the gate-drain capacitance independence from the voltage for different transistors.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

In the following detailed description, reference is made to theaccompanying drawings, which form a part hereof, and in which are shownby way of illustrations specific embodiments in which the invention maybe practiced. It is to be understood that other embodiments may beutilized and structural or logical changes may be made without departingfrom the scope of the present invention. For example, featuresillustrated or described for one embodiment can be used on or inconjunction with other embodiments to yield yet a further embodiment. Itis intended that the present invention includes such modifications andvariations. The examples are described using specific language whichshould not be construed as limiting the scope of the appending claims.The drawings are not scaled and are for illustrative purposes only. Forclarity, the same elements have been designated by correspondingreferences in the different drawings if not stated otherwise.

The terms “having”, “containing”, “including”, “comprising” and the likeare open and the terms indicate the presence of stated structures,elements or features but not preclude additional elements or features.The articles “a”, “an” and “the” are intended to include the plural aswell as the singular, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise.

The term “electrically connected” describes a permanent low-ohmicconnection between electrically connected elements, for example a directcontact between the concerned elements or a low-ohmic connection via ametal and/or highly doped semiconductor. The term “electrically coupled”includes that one or more intervening element(s) adapted for signaltransmission may be provided between the electrically coupled elements,for example resistors, resistive elements or elements that arecontrollable to temporarily provide a low-ohmic connection in a firststate and a high-ohmic electric decoupling in a second state.

The Figures illustrate relative doping concentrations by indicating “−”or “+” next to the doping type “n” or “p”. For example, “n⁻” means adoping concentration, which is lower than the doping concentration of an“n”-doping region while an “n⁺”-doping region has a higher dopingconcentration than an “n”-doping region. Doping regions of the samerelative doping concentration do not necessarily have the same absolutedoping concentration. For example, two different “n”-doping regions mayhave the same or different absolute doping concentrations. In theFigures and the description, for the sake of a better comprehension,often the doped portions are designated as being “p” or “n”-doped. As isclearly to be understood, this designation is by no means intended to belimiting. The doping type can be arbitrary as long as the describedfunctionality is achieved. Further, in all embodiments, the doping typescan be reversed.

The terms “wafer”, “substrate” or “semiconductor substrate” used in thefollowing description may include any semiconductor-based structure thathas a semiconductor surface. Wafer and structure are to be understood toinclude silicon, silicon-on-insulator (SOI), silicon-on sapphire (SOS),doped and undoped semiconductors, epitaxial layers of silicon supportedby a base semiconductor foundation, and other semiconductor structures.The semiconductor need not be silicon-based. The semiconductor could aswell be silicon-germanium, germanium, or gallium arsenide. According toembodiments of the present application, generally, silicon carbide (SiC)or gallium nitride (GaN) is a further example of the semiconductorsubstrate material.

Generally, for patterning material layers, a photolithographic methodmay be used in which a suitable photoresist material is provided. Thephotoresist material is photolithographically patterned using a suitablephotomask. The patterned photoresist layer can be used as a mask duringsubsequent processing steps. For example, as is common, a hardmask layeror a layer made of a suitable material such as silicon nitride,polysilicon or carbon may be provided over the material layer to bepatterned. The hardmask layer is photolithographically patterned usingan etching process, for example. Taking the patterned hardmask layer asan etching mask, the material layer is patterned.

The terms “lateral” and “horizontal” as used in this specificationintend to describe an orientation parallel to a first surface of asemiconductor substrate or semiconductor body. This can be for instancethe surface of a wafer or a die.

The term “vertical” as used in this specification intends to describe anorientation which is arranged perpendicular to the first surface of thesemiconductor substrate or semiconductor body.

FIG. 1A shows a perspective view of a semiconductor device according toan embodiment. The semiconductor device illustrated in FIG. 1A comprisesa transistor 200 that is formed in a semiconductor substrate 100 havinga first main surface 110. According to an embodiment, a buried wellportion may be disposed in the semiconductor substrate 100. For example,the semiconductor substrate is doped with a first conductivity type andthe doped well portion 105 is doped with a second conductivity type. Forexample, the first conductivity type may be p-doped and the secondconductivity type is n-doped or vice versa.

The transistor shown in FIG. 1A comprises a source region 210, a drainregion 220, a channel region 230 and a drain extension region 240, and agate electrode 250. The gate electrode 250 is adjacent to the channelregion 230, the gate electrode 250 being insulated from the channelregion 230 by means of a gate dielectric layer 255. The gate electrode250 is configured to control a conductivity of a channel formed in thechannel region 230. The channel region 230 and the drain extensionregion 240 are disposed along a first direction between the sourceregion 210 and the drain region 220. The first direction is parallel tothe first main surface 110.

As is further illustrated in FIG. 1A, the components of the transistorare disposed in a ridge 115 that is formed in the first main surface 110of the semiconductor substrate 100 and that extends along the firstdirection. Accordingly, the channel region 230 is disposed in a firstportion 120 of the ridge 115 and the drain extension region is disposedin a second portion 130 of the ridge 115. The drain extension region 240comprises a core portion (not shown in this Figure) that is doped withthe first conductivity type. The drain extension region furthercomprises a cover portion 244 that is doped with the second conductivitytype. The cover portion 244 is disposed to be adjacent to at least oneor two sidewalls 117 of the second portion 130 of the ridge 115. Thesidewalls extend in a direction that intersects the first main surface110 of the semiconductor substrate 100. According to an embodiment, thetop side may be approximately parallel to the first main surface 110.For example, the cover portion 244 may be adjacent to two sidewalls 117and a top side 116 of the second portion 130 of the ridge 115. Accordingto a further embodiment, the cover portion 244 may be adjacent to onlyone or two sidewalls of the second portion 130 of the ridge 115. Forexample, a further layer, different from the cover portion 244 may bedisposed on the top side 116 of the ridge 115.

The channel region 230 is doped with the first conductivity type. Thesource region and the drain region are doped with a second conductivitytype which is different from the first conductivity type.

In the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 1A, the source region 210 and thedrain region 220 are implemented by doped portions of the secondconductivity type. For example, the source region 210 is disposed in athird portion 135 of the ridge 115. A core portion of the third portion135 of the ridge 115 has the first conductivity type and a regionadjacent to a top surface 116 and the two sidewalls 117 of the thirdportion 135 of the ridge 115 is doped with the second conductivity type.As will be explained in the following, a core portion of the ridge 115having the first conductivity type and being disposed adjacent to thesource region 210 of the transistor 200, may implement a body contactpath 275 that prevents a parasitic bipolar transistor from being formed.According to an embodiment, the body contact path 275 may be doped witha higher dopant concentration than the channel region 230. Further, thepn-junction formed at the interface between the body contact path 275and the source region 210 implements a body diode that may be used forinductive switching processes. According to a further embodiment, thebulk contact may be accomplished by a doped well region of the secondconductivity type. The doped well region may be disposed beneath thechannel region and, optionally, beneath a portion of the drain extensionregion 240. In this case and according to further embodiments, also thecore portion of the ridge 115 may be doped with the second conductivitytype.

FIG. 1B shows a cross-sectional view of the structure shown in FIG. 1A,the cross-sectional view being taken along a plane that is parallel tothe first main surface 110. As is shown, the transistor 200 comprises asource region including a source contact doping 215, the source regionbeing disposed adjacent to a sidewall of a ridge 115. The semiconductordevice further comprises a drain region 220 including a drain contactdoping 225 disposed at another end side of the ridge. A channel region230 is disposed adjacent to the source region 210 and extends along thewidth of the ridge 115, the gate electrode 250 being adjacent to thechannel region 230, the gate electrode 250 being insulated from thechannel region 230 by means of a gate dielectric. Moreover, the drainextension region 240 is disposed between the channel region 230 and thedrain region 220. The drain extension region 240 comprises a coreportion 242 which is doped with the first conductivity type. Further,the drain extension region comprises a cover portion 244 which isdisposed at the sidewalls 117 of the drain extension region 240.

The cross-sectional views of FIG. 1C are taken at a portion of the drainextension region and in a direction that intersects the first direction.The left-hand portion of FIG. 1C illustrates a cross-sectional view incase of using a p- or n-doped substrate comprising a doped well portion105, and the right-hand portion of FIG. 1C illustrates a cross-sectionalview of the substrate when using an SOI substrate, in which a buriedoxide layer 106 is disposed within the semiconductor substrate 100. Theupper portion of FIG. 1C shows a schematic plan view illustrating adirection of the cross-sectional view. As is specifically illustrated inFIG. 1C, the cover portion 244 is disposed so as to be adjacent to a topside 116 and to the sidewalls 117 of the second portion 130 of theridge. The core portion 242 is doped with the first conductivity type.The drain extension region is disposed in a second portion 130 of theridge. An insulating layer 300 such as silicon oxide may be disposed soas to fill the space between adjacent second ridge portions 130.

FIG. 1D shows a cross-sectional view of a channel region 230 of thetransistor, being taken along a direction intersecting the firstdirection. The left-hand portion of FIG. 1D illustrates across-sectional view of a p- or n-doped substrate 100, including aburied well implantation layer 105, and the right-hand portion of FIG.1D illustrates a cross-sectional view when an SOI substrate is used, theSOI substrate comprising a buried oxide layer 106. The upper portion ofFIG. 1D illustrates a location at which the cross-sectional views aretaken.

As is shown in FIG. 1D, the channel region 230 is disposed in a firstportion 120 of the ridge. The gate electrode 250 is disposed adjacent tothe first ridge portion 120. A gate dielectric 255 is disposed betweenthe gate electrode 250 and the channel region 230. The gate electrode250 may be disposed so as to completely fill the spaces between adjacentridges at the first ridge portion 120.

The transistor illustrated in FIGS. 1A to 1D implements a so-calledFinFET, in which the channel region 230 is formed in the semiconductorsubstrate portion having the shape of a fin or a ridge. Due to thestructure, a three-dimensional shape of the semiconductor device may beimplemented. The width of the channel or, differently stated, theportion of the channel region that is adjacent to the gate electrode 250corresponds to the width of the ridge, measured perpendicularly to thefirst direction or extension direction of the ridge, and the height ofthe first ridge portion 120. Accordingly, it is possible to increase theeffective area of the transistor without increasing the area needed formanufacturing the transistor.

In case of being switched on, a conductive inversion layer is formed atthe boundary between the channel region 230 and the gate dielectric 255.Accordingly, the transistor is in a conducting state from the sourceregion 210 to the drain region 220 via the drain extension region ordrift zone 240. In case of switching-off, in the drain extension region240, carriers of the core portion 242 of the first conductivity type andcarriers within the cover portion 244 of the second conductivity typecompensate each other. As a consequence, the cover portion 244 may bedepleted, resulting in a blocking of the current flow at a highbreakdown voltage.

Due to the special construction of the drain extension region 240comprising a core portion of the first conductivity type and a coverportion 244 that is disposed adjacent to two sidewalls 117 and the topside 116 of the second ridge 130, charge carriers may be compensated(depleted) in case of a reverse voltage being applied. As a consequence,it is possible to increase a doping concentration of the cover portion244 in comparison to a case in which the drain extension region isimplemented by semiconductor material of the second conductivity typeonly, whereby the resistivity of the drain extension region may bedecreased.

As is particularly shown in FIG. 1B, a core portion 275 of the ridge ina third ridge portion 135 implements a body contact path enabling acontact of the channel region 230 or body region to the bulk contact 270or body contact. Thereby, a parasitic bipolar transistor is avoidedwhich could otherwise be formed at this portion. Moreover, in anoff-state of the transistor, the drain-extension region 240 may bedepleted more easily. In the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1A to 1D, thegate electrode 250 is disposed so as to be adjacent to a top side 116and two lateral sides 117 of the channel region 230. Moreover, the coverlayer 244 is disposed at a top side 116 and two sidewalls 117 of thecore portion 242 of the drain extension region. According to anembodiment, it is possible to increase the channel width by increasingthe height of the ridge. Thereby, also the width of the drain extensionregion is increased. Increasing the width of the drain extension regioncan be accomplished while not substantially influencing theelectrostatic properties in the channel region and the drain extensionregion and without further increasing the area demanded for implementingthe device.

FIG. 1E shows a cross-sectional view of the embodiment, thecross-sectional view being taken along the first directionperpendicularly with respect to the first main surface in a region ofthe cover portion 244. The left-hand portion of FIG. 1E illustrates across-sectional view of a p- or n-doped substrate comprising a buriedwell implantation portion 105. Further, the right-hand portion shows across-sectional view of a transistor formed in an SOI substrate includedin a buried oxide layer 106. The upper portion of FIG. 1E illustrates aposition at which the cross-sectional views are taken. As is shown, inthis area, the source region 210, the channel region 230, the drainextension region 240, in particular, the cover portion, and the drainregion 220 are arranged along the first direction. A bulk contact 270 isdisposed adjacent to the source contact doping 215. The bulk contact 270is doped with a higher dopant concentration than the body contact path275 and with a higher dopant concentration than the channel region 230.The gate electrode 250 is disposed at a top side of the channel region230.

FIG. 1F shows a further cross-sectional view of the structure which istaken along the first direction so as to intersect the core portion 242of the drain extension region 240 and the body contact path 275. As isshown, due to the body contact path, the channel region 230 or bodyregion is connected with the bulk contact 270.

FIG. 1G shows a cross-sectional view of the transistor at a position ofthe drain region 220. As is shown, a drain contact doping 225 isdisposed adjacent to the drain region 220. The left-hand portion of FIG.1G shows a cross-sectional view of a transistor formed in a p- orn-doped substrate including a buried well implantation portion 105, andthe right-hand portion of FIG. 1G shows a cross-sectional view of thetransistor formed in an SOI substrate including a buried oxide layer106. The upper portion of FIG. 1G illustrates a position at which thecross-sectional view is taken.

As has been explained with reference to FIGS. 1A to 1G, according to afurther embodiment, a semiconductor device comprises a transistor 200,being formed in a semiconductor substrate 100 comprising a first mainsurface 110. The transistor 200 comprises a channel region 230, dopedwith dopants of a first conductivity type, a gate electrode 250 adjacentto the channel region 230, a source region 210, and a drain region 220,the source region 210 and the drain region 220 being doped with a secondconductivity type, different from the first conductivity type. Thechannel region 230 is disposed in a first portion 120 of a ridge 115,the source region 210 being disposed in a further portion 135 of theridge 115, adjacent to the channel region 230. The source region 210 isdisposed adjacent to at least one of a top side 116 and two sidewalls117 of the further portion 135 of the ridge 115, and a core portion ofthe further portion 135 of the ridge is doped with dopants of the firstconductivity type and forms a body contact path 275. For example, thesource region 210 may be disposed adjacent to one or two sidewalls 117of the ridge 115. According to an embodiment, the source region may bedisposed adjacent to a top side 116 of the ridge 115. According to afurther embodiment, the source region may be disposed adjacent to a topside 116 and two sidewalls 117 of the ridge 115. According to anembodiment, the semiconductor may further comprise a drain extensionregion 240 that disposed between the channel region 230 and the drainregion 220. As will be readily appreciated, this embodiment may becombined with any element described in this disclosure.

FIGS. 2A to 2G illustrate a further embodiment. In FIGS. 2A to 2G thesame components as those described with respect to FIGS. 1A to 1G areshown, and only the differences are referred to.

FIG. 2A shows a portion of the drain extension region 240 in a case inwhich in addition to the cover portion 244 a field plate 260 and a fielddielectric layer 265 are disposed adjacent to the drain extension region240. The field plate 260 is insulated from the drain extension region240 by means of the field dielectric layer 265. The drain extensionregion 240 comprises a core portion 242 of the first conductivity typeand a cover portion 244 of the second conductivity type, in a similarmanner as in the embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 1A to 1G. As will bereadily appreciated from a comparison of FIGS. 1A and 2A, the gateelectrode 250 and the field plate 260 are formed to be adjacent to thesame ridge 215 at different positions of the ridge 215.

FIG. 2B shows a cross-sectional view of the semiconductor device along aplane that is parallel to the first main surface. As is shown, the fieldplate 260 is disposed so as to be adjacent to the sidewalls of the drainextension region 240. Due to the presence of the field plate 260, thegate-drain capacitance may be further reduced and, additionally, in caseof switching-off, the carriers in the drain extension region 240 may becompensated more effectively. As a consequence, the doping concentrationof the drain extension region 240 may be increased without deterioratingthe breakdown voltage characteristics. For example, the field plate 260may be connected with the source potential. FIG. 2B further shows aninsulating material 301 that is disposed between the field plate 260 andthe gate electrode 250. As will be explained below, the lateralthickness of the insulating material 301 may be arbitrarily andprecisely set. For example, the lateral thickness of the insulatingmaterial 301 may be larger than the thickness of the field oxide layer265. As a result, it is possible to reduce the gate-field platecapacitance.

FIG. 2C shows a cross-sectional view of the drain extension region 240in a direction intersecting the first direction. The left-hand portionof FIG. 2C shows a transistor formed in a p- or n-doped substrateincluding a buried well implantation portion 105, and the transistorshown in the right-hand portion of FIG. 2C is a transistor formed in anSOI substrate including a buried oxide layer 106. The upper portion ofFIG. 2C shows the position of the cross-sectional view. As is furthershown in FIG. 2C, the field plate 260 fills the spaces between theadjacent second ridge portions 130.

FIG. 2D shows a cross-sectional view similar to the cross-sectional viewshown in FIG. 1E. As is shown, the field plate 260 is formed over thetop side of the second ridge portion 130, the field plate 260 beinginsulated from the cover layer 244 by means of the field dielectriclayer 265. FIG. 2E shows a cross-sectional view of the transistorparallel to the first direction between adjacent ridges. As is shown,the space between adjacent ridges is filled with a gate electrode 250and the field plate 260. Since the space between adjacent ridges isfilled with the gate electrode 250, the gate-drain capacitance can befurther reduced. According to the implementation, in which the fieldplate 260 fills the space between adjacent ridges, a small resistivitycan be achieved and corresponding losses can be avoided.

FIG. 2F shows a cross-sectional view of the transistor taken at asimilar position as the cross-sectional view of FIG. 1F. As is shown,the field plate 260 is disposed over the top side of the drain extensionregion 240, the field plate 260 being insulated from the drain extensionregion 240 by means of the field dielectric layer 265.

According to a further embodiment as is illustrated in FIG. 2G, thesemiconductor device of FIGS. 2A to 2F may be implemented in a manner inwhich the drain extension region 240 does not comprise a core portion242 and in which the drain extension region is completely doped with thesecond conductivity type.

As is shown in FIG. 2G, a semiconductor device comprises a transistor200, formed in a semiconductor substrate 100 comprising a first mainsurface 110, the transistor comprising a channel region 230, doped withdopants of a first conductivity type, a source region 210, a drainregion 220, the source region 210 and the drain region 220 being dopedwith a second conductivity type, different from the first conductivitytype. The transistor further comprises a drain extension region 240, agate electrode 250 adjacent to the channel region 230, and a field plate260 being disposed adjacent to the drain extension region 240. Thechannel region 230 is disposed in a first portion 120 of a ridge 115,and the drain extension region 240 is disposed in a second portion 130of the ridge 115.

FIG. 2G shows a portion of the drain extension region 240 which may bemade of a doped portion 241 of the second conductivity type. A fieldplate 260 and a field dielectric layer 265 are disposed adjacent to thedrain extension region 240. The field plate 260 is insulated from thedrain extension region 240 by means of the field dielectric layer 265.As will be readily appreciated from a comparison of FIGS. 1A and 2G, thegate electrode 250 and the field plate 260 are formed to be adjacent tothe same ridge 215 at different positions of the ridge 215.

As will be explained below, the field plate 260 may be formed afterforming the gate electrode 250. Further, the field plate 260 may beformed in a self-aligned manner with respect to the gate electrode 250.

FIG. 3 shows a perspective view of a semiconductor device according to afurther embodiment. The embodiment of FIG. 3 approximately correspondsto the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 1A. Nevertheless, the coverportion 244 of the drain extension region 240 in the embodiment of FIG.3 is implemented by an epitaxial layer which is formed over the secondridge portion 130. Moreover, a field plate 260 is formed over the drainextension region 240 and is insulated from the drain extension region240 by means of a field dielectric layer 265.

FIGS. 4A to 4J illustrate a method of manufacturing a semiconductordevice according to an embodiment.

Starting from a semiconductor substrate, for example, a siliconsubstrate or an SOI substrate, ridges or fins 310 are etched into thefirst main surface of the semiconductor substrate. The silicon substratein which the ridge 310 is formed has the first conductivity type, forexample, p type. Etching may be accomplished by plasma etching. Forexample, the ridges may have a top side 316 and sidewalls 319 extendingalong a first direction that corresponds to an arrangement direction ofthe components of the processed transistor. For example, the width w ofthe ridge may be about 200 to 1000 nm, and a height of the ridge h maybe approximately 1 to 10 μm. The ridge 310 may have a length ofapproximately 1 to 10 μm. For example, a ridge for a voltage of 40 V mayhave a length of approximately 2 μm. Thereafter, an oxidation step, e.g.using thermal oxidation is performed so as to form a thin silicon oxidelayer 320. For example, the silicon oxide layer 320 may have a thicknessof approximately 5 to 50 nm. FIG. 4A shows in the lower part thereof across-sectional view that is taken parallel to the first main surface ofthe two ridges 310. Moreover, the upper portion of FIG. 4A illustrates across-sectional view between I and I′, and specifically illustrates thedimensions of the ridge 310.

According to the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 4A, the ridge 310 mayhave an equal shape along the whole length I thereof. According to afurther embodiment, the ridge may have a broadened portion. For example,FIG. 4B illustrates a ridge 312 comprising a first ridge portion 317 anda second ridge portion 318. As is shown in FIG. 4B according to anembodiment, the second ridge portion 318 may have a larger width thanthe first ridge portion 317. Further, as is illustrated in the lowerpart of FIG. 4B, the second ridge portion 318 may have a sub-portion ofan increasing width and a second sub-portion with an increased widthwith respect to the first ridge portion 317.

In a next step, a conductive layer such as polysilicon may be deposited.For example, the polysilicon layer may have a thickness of 50 to 200 nm.The polysilicon material may be n-doped or may undoped and may be dopedafter deposition. As further examples, silicide, for example metalsilicide, a metal, or a layer stack comprising polysilicon, silicideand/or metal may be employed. The conductive material may have athickness so that the space between adjacent ridges 310 is completelyfilled. Alternatively, the conductive layer may have a smallerthickness. Then, the conductive material is patterned so as to form thegate electrode 330.

FIG. 4C shows an example of the resulting structure. In particular, whenforming the gate electrode and using the ridge structure shown in FIG.4B, the gate electrode 330 is adjacent to the first ridge portion 317.Thereafter, a doping step with dopants of the second conductivity typeis performed using the gate electrode 330 as a mask.

For example, this may be accomplished by a generally known dopingmethod, for example, gas phase doping such as plasma assisted doping(PLAD), pulsed plasma doping, an ion implantation method or a tilted ionimplantation method or further doping methods. Optionally, the oxidelayer 320 or portions thereof may be removed from the ridge 310 beforeperforming the doping process.

FIG. 4D shows an example of a resulting structure. As is shown, due tothe doping process using the gate electrode 330 as an implantation mask,a layer 340 of the second conductivity type is disposed in aself-aligned manner with respect to the gate electrode 330. As aconsequence, there is only a small lateral deviation between thestarting position of the doped portion of the second conductivity typeand the gate electrode 330. In other words, the doped portion 340 of thesecond conductivity type approximately does not overlap with the gateelectrode, nor is there a gap between the gate electrode and thestarting point of the doped portion 340 of the second conductivity type.The layer 340 of the second conductivity type may have a thickness ofapproximately 100 to 500 nm. The thickness of the layer 340 depends fromthe doping concentration of the layer 340 and from the dopingconcentration of the ridge. Generally, when the semiconductor devicedoes not comprise a field plate disposed over the ridge, the amount ofcarriers within layer 340 should be approximately equal to the amount ofcarriers in the core portion 242 of the ridge. When the semiconductordevice comprises a field plate disposed over the ridge, the amount ofcarriers within layer 340 may be higher than said of the core portion242, for example may be the double of carriers within the core portion242.

Thereafter, the portions of the ridge in which the body contact is to bedefined, is defined using photolithographical methods. For example, aphotomask 350 is formed, so as to leave portions of the ridge 310uncovered. According to a further embodiment, a selective epitaxy methodusing in-situ doping may be employed. In this case, a hard mask may beused instead of the patterned photoresist mask.

FIG. 4E shows an example of the resulting structure. Thereafter, afurther doping process of doping with a first conductivity type isperformed so as to provide heavily doped portions of the firstconductivity type. For example, a general implantation step or plasmadoping or doping from the gas phase may be employed.

As is shown in FIG. 4F, due to this process, a front end of the ridge310 may be doped to form the doped portion 360. According to furtherembodiments, only a side portion adjacent to a source contact may bedoped or the body contact path may be implemented in a different manneraccording to generally known concepts, for example, to implement aburied body contact. According to further embodiment, the semiconductordevice may comprise an additional doped well layer that acts as a buriedbody contact. The doped portion 360 will provide the body contact of theresulting transistor.

In the next step, a further doping process is performed so as to formheavily doped contacts of the second conductivity type. This may beaccomplished by a photolithographic method using a further doping mask350. As is shown in FIG. 4G, the doping mask 350 is arranged so as touncover portions of a region between the doped portion 360 and the gateelectrode and to further uncover an end portion of each of the ridges310. Then, a further doping process is performed using, for example, gasphase doping such as plasma doping or ion implantation.

FIG. 4H shows a cross-sectional view of an example of a resultingstructure. As is particularly shown, the contact doping for the sourceregion is disposed self-aligned with respect to the gate electrode 330.

Then, a further insulating layer is formed. For example, the insulatinglayer may be formed by forming a thin thermal oxide 380. An example of aresulting structure is shown in FIG. 4I. As is shown, the sidewalls ofthe ridges and the top side thereof are covered by the thin oxide layer380. This thermal oxidation step may be performed using a comparativelylow oxidation temperature (lower than approximately 900° C.). In thiscase, an oxide is grown adjacent to the gate electrode, so that in thecompleted transistor comprising a field plate, an oxide layer betweenthe gate electrode and the field plate is thicker than the field oxidelayer. Hence, there will be a lower capacitance between the gateelectrode and the field plate.

Thereafter, a CVD process using, for example, TEOS(tetraethylorthosilicate) as a starting material may be performed so asto fill the spaces between adjacent ridges 310. FIG. 4J shows an exampleof a resulting structure. As is shown, the silicon oxide material 300completely fills the space between adjacent ridges 310.

Thereafter, the semiconductor device may be further processed byproviding contacts to the source and drain regions 372, 373, as isconventional. For example, contact trenches for contacting the sourceand drain region 372, 373 may be etched and filled with a conductivematerial. According to an embodiment, the contact trenches may be etchedso as to extend to approximately a bottom portion of the ridge 310.Nevertheless, it is also possible to contact only the surface portion ofthe source or drain regions. The conductive material may comprise ametal, for example, tungsten. Further, contacts for contacting the dopedportion 360 to provide a bulk contact are formed as is conventional.

According to a further embodiment, starting from the structure shown inFIG. 4J, further, a field plate 260 may be formed so as to be adjacentto the drain extension region 240. According to this embodiment,starting from the structure shown in FIG. 4J, field plate trenches areetched into the silicon oxide material 300. The position of the trenchesis selected so that a field oxide layer having a sufficient thickness isdisposed between the resulting field plates and the drain extensionregions 240. Further, the lateral position of the trenches may beselected so that insulating material disposed between the field plateand the gate electrode 330 has a sufficient lateral thickness.

Thereafter, conductive material for forming the field plate isdeposited. For example, the field plate may comprise heavily dopedpolysilicon, silicide, for example metal silicide and/or metal, or astack of these materials. The conductive material may be removed fromthe gate electrode. The field plate may be connected to the sourceelectrode, for example, at a side end portion of a block of transistorsconnected in parallel to each other. According to an embodiment, thethickness of the conductive material may be selected such that thetrenches between adjacent ridges are completely filled so as to reduce aresulting resistance. According to a further embodiment, the field platemay be deposited when forming the source contacts that contact thesource portion. According to an embodiment, the conductive layer of thefield plate may be removed from the gate electrode or from at least aportion over the gate electrode in order to reduce a gateelectrode-field plate capacitance. FIG. 5 shows an example of aresulting structure. In particular, as is shown, field plates 390 aredisposed between adjacent ridges and are disposed over the drainextension region 240. Further, the insulating material 301 between thefield plate 390 and the gate electrode 330 has a lateral thickness thatmay be larger than a thickness of the field oxide layer 302. Thereby, agate—field plate capacitance may be further reduced.

According to a modification, starting from the structure shown in FIG.4H, a thin silicon oxide layer is formed over the top surface and thesidewalls of the ridge 310 so as to cover the drain extension region andthe gate electrode, similar to the embodiment shown in FIG. 4I. The thinsilicon oxide layer may be formed by thermal oxidation or by conformaldeposition. The thin silicon oxide layer formed over the drain extensionregion will act as a field oxide layer in the completed device.

Thereafter, a conductive material for forming the field plate is formedin the remaining grooves between adjacent ridges 310. The conductivematerial may comprise any of the materials for forming the field plateas mentioned above. The conductive material may be formed so as tocompletely fill the grooves between adjacent ridges 310. Alternatively,the conductive material may be formed as a conformal layer. Then, theconductive material is patterned to form the field plate.

FIG. 6 shows a further modification of the method described above. As isshown, the ridge 310 may be narrowed at a source side or a drain sidethereof to form a narrowed ridge portion 315. Further, a spacer 385 ofan insulating material may be formed at a sidewall of the gate electrode330 so as to protect the gate oxide from under-etching. Thereby, theelectrical properties of the resulting transistor may be furtherimproved.

FIG. 7 illustrates an embodiment in which the cover portion 340 of thedrain extension region is formed by means of selective epitaxy. Startingpoint for performing this method is a silicon ridge 312 comprising asilicon oxide layer 320, the silicon oxide layer 320 having a thicknessof approximately 5 to 50 nm. As is illustrated in FIG. 7A, the ridge 312may have a broadened portion. Nevertheless, as is clearly to beunderstood, the ridge 312 also may have a homogenous width. In a firststep, the silicon oxide layer 320 is patterned so as to form the gateoxide portion. FIG. 7B shows an example of a resulting structure.

Thereafter, a selective epitaxy method is used, according to whichepitaxial material is only formed over the uncovered portions of thesilicon ridge 312. During this selective epitaxy method, the siliconmaterial is in-situ doped with a dopant of the second conductivity typeso as to form the cover portion 340 of the drain extension region. As isshown in FIG. 7C, the cover portion 340 is formed in a self-alignedmanner with respect to the position of the oxide layer 320. The pitch ofthe ridges and the thickness of the grown layer may be selected so thatthe epitaxial regions merge and grow together.

FIG. 8 shows an example of an array of transistors having the structureas discussed herein above. Although FIG. 8 shows transistors, which donot comprise a field plate, it is to be clearly understood thattransistors comprising a field plate may be arranged in a correspondingmanner. As is shown, a plurality of transistors of a row are arranged sothat the bulk contacts 270 face each other so that a correspondingcontact may be easily accomplished. Further, the transistors ofrespective columns are arranged so that, for example, sourcemetallization and drain metallization may be formed by patterningstripes of a conductive material.

FIG. 9 illustrates a method of manufacturing a semiconductor device. Themethod comprises forming a transistor in a semiconductor substrate, thesemiconductor substrate comprising a first main surface, wherein formingthe transistor comprises forming a source region, a drain region, achannel region, a drain extension region and a gate electrode adjacentto the channel region, wherein the channel region and the drainextension region are formed so as to be disposed along the firstdirection between the source region and the drain region, the firstdirection being parallel to the first main surface, doping the channelregion with dopants of a first conductivity type, doping the source andthe drain region with dopants of a second conductivity type. As isspecifically illustrated in FIG. 9, forming the channel region comprisesforming a ridge (S10) including a first ridge portion and a second ridgeportion in the semiconductor substrate, the first ridge extending alongthe first direction, and forming the drain extension region comprisesforming a core portion (S20) doped with the first conductivity type inthe second ridge portion and forming a cover portion (S30) doped withthe second conductivity type, the cover layer being formed so as to beadjacent to a top side and to sidewalls of the second ridge portion.

According to an embodiment, forming the cover portion (S30) may beperformed after forming the gate electrode (S40). For example, the coverportion may be formed in a self-aligned manner with respect to the gateelectrode. According to an embodiment, the cover portion may be formedby forming a doped portion of the second conductivity type, comprisinge.g. any generally known doping methods such as doping from the gasphase, plasma assisted doping (PLAD) or ion implantation includingtilted ion implantation. According to a further embodiment, selectiveepitaxy using in-situ doping may be employed.

The electrical characteristics of FinFETs including different types offield plates and without a field plate were simulated. Each of theFinFETs comprises a channel having a length measured in the firstdirection of 600 nm and a drain extension region having a length of 500nm. The effective width of the channel region, i.e. the sum of thelateral extension of the top side, measured perpendicularly with respectto the first direction and the height h was 4.6 μm. The overlap of gateelectrode and drain extension region was approximately 10 nm. The pitchbetween neighboring ridges is 2.4 μm, and the total cell area is 2.52μm².

FIG. 10 shows the dependence of the gate-drain capacitance from thevoltage for several transistors in case the field plate and the gateelectrode are connected with each other, in case the field plate hasbeen formed in a self-aligned manner with respect to the gate electrodeand is held at a source potential, and without a field plate. As isshown, the transistor comprising a field plate that is held at sourcepotential and which has been manufactured self-aligned with respect tothe gate electrode, has a remarkably reduced gate-drain capacitance withrespect to the transistor without a field plate or a transistor in whichthe field plate is connected with the gate electrode.

Although specific embodiments have been illustrated and describedherein, it will be appreciated by those of ordinary skill in the artthat a variety of alternate and/or equivalent implementations may besubstituted for the specific embodiments shown and described withoutdeparting from the scope of the present invention. This application isintended to cover any adaptations or variations of the specificembodiments discussed herein. Therefore, it is intended that thisinvention be limited only by the claims and the equivalents thereof.

1. A semiconductor device comprising a transistor, formed in asemiconductor substrate having a first main surface, the transistorcomprising: a channel region doped with dopants of a first conductivitytype; a source region doped with dopants of a second conductivity typedifferent from the first conductivity type; a drain region doped withdopants of the second conductivity type; a drain extension region; and agate electrode adjacent to the channel region, the channel region beingdisposed in a first portion of a ridge, the drain extension region beingdisposed in a second portion of the ridge, the drain extension regioncomprising a core portion doped with the first conductivity type, thedrain extension region further comprising a cover portion doped with thesecond conductivity type, the cover portion being adjacent to at leastone or two sidewalls of the second portion of the ridge.
 2. Thesemiconductor device according to claim 1, further comprising: a fieldplate disposed adjacent to the drain extension region; and a fielddielectric disposed between the cover portion of the drain extensionregion and the field plate.
 3. The semiconductor device according toclaim 2, wherein portions of the field plate are disposed at least attwo sides of the second portion of the ridge.
 4. The semiconductordevice according to claim 1, wherein the second portion of the ridge hasa width different from a width of the first portion of the ridge.
 5. Thesemiconductor device according to claim 2, wherein the gate electrodeand the field plate are isolated from each other.
 6. The semiconductordevice according to claim 1, wherein the cover portion is disposed in aself-aligned manner with respect to the gate electrode.
 7. Thesemiconductor device according to claim 1, wherein the source region isdisposed in a third portion of the ridge, adjacent to the channelregion.
 8. The semiconductor device according to claim 7, wherein thesource region is disposed adjacent to a top side and sidewalls of thethird portion of the ridge, a core portion of the third portion of theridge being doped with dopants of the first conductivity type andforming a body contact path.
 9. The semiconductor device according toclaim 8, further comprising a bulk contact disposed in contact with thebody contact path.
 10. An integrated circuit comprising thesemiconductor device according to claim
 1. 11. The semiconductor deviceaccording to claim 1, wherein the cover portion is adjacent to a topside and sidewalls of the second portion of the ridge.
 12. Asemiconductor device, comprising a transistor formed in a ridge formedin a first main surface of a semiconductor substrate, the transistorcomprising: a channel region of a first conductivity type in at least apart of the ridge; a drain extension region disposed in another part ofthe ridge, the drain extension region comprising a core portion of thefirst conductivity type and a cover portion of a second conductivitytype, the cover portion being disposed at least at one or two sidewallsof the ridge; a source region and a drain region of the secondconductivity type; and a gate structure disposed to opposing sidewallsof the ridge, the channel region and the drain extension region beingdisposed along a first direction between the source region and the drainregion, the first direction being parallel to the first main surface.13. The semiconductor device according to claim 12, further comprising:a field plate and a field dielectric layer, the field plate beingadjacent to the drain extension region, the field dielectric layer beingdisposed between the cover portion and the field plate.
 14. Thesemiconductor device according to claim 12, wherein the source region isdisposed at a top side and two sidewalls of the ridge, a core portion ofthe ridge at a position of the source region being doped with dopants ofthe first conductivity type.
 15. The semiconductor device according toclaim 12, wherein the cover portion is adjacent to a top side andsidewalls of the ridge.
 16. A method of manufacturing a semiconductordevice, comprising: forming a transistor in a semiconductor substrate,the semiconductor substrate having a first main surface, wherein formingthe transistor comprises: forming a ridge including a first ridgeportion and a second ridge portion in the semiconductor substrate, theridge extending along a first direction, forming a source region, adrain region, a channel region, a drain extension region and a gateelectrode adjacent to the channel region, in the ridge, doping thechannel region with dopants of a first conductivity type, doping thesource region and the drain region with dopants of a second conductivitytype, wherein forming the drain extension region comprises forming acore portion doped with the first conductivity type in the second ridgeportion, forming the drain extension region further comprises forming acover portion doped with the second conductivity type, the cover portionbeing formed so as to be adjacent to at least one or two sidewalls ofthe second ridge portion.
 17. The method according to claim 16, whereinforming the cover portion is performed after forming the gate electrode.18. The method according to claim 17, wherein the cover portion isformed in a self-aligned manner with respect to the gate electrode. 19.The method according to claim 17, wherein forming the cover portioncomprises a doping process using the gate electrode as a mask.
 20. Themethod according to claim 16, further comprising forming a field plateadjacent to the cover portion.
 21. The method according to claim 17,wherein forming the ridge is accomplished so that the second ridgeportion has a width different from a width of the first ridge portion.22. The method according to claim 17, further comprising forming a gateinsulating layer, wherein forming the cover portion comprises performinga selective epitaxy method after forming the gate insulating layer. 23.A semiconductor device comprising a transistor, formed in asemiconductor substrate having a first main surface, the transistorcomprising: a channel region doped with dopants of a first conductivitytype; a source region doped with dopants of a second conductivity typedifferent from the first conductivity type; a drain region doped withdopants of the second conductivity type; and a gate electrode adjacentto the channel region, the channel region being disposed in a firstportion of a ridge, the source region being disposed in a furtherportion of the ridge, adjacent to the channel region, wherein the sourceregion is disposed adjacent to at least one of a top side and twosidewalls of the further portion of the ridge, a core portion of thefurther portion of the ridge being doped with dopants of the firstconductivity type and forming a body contact path.
 24. The semiconductordevice according to claim 23, further comprising a drain extensionregion disposed between the channel region and the drain region.
 25. Asemiconductor device comprising a transistor, formed in a semiconductorsubstrate having a first main surface, the transistor comprising: achannel region doped with dopants of a first conductivity type; a sourceregion doped with dopants of a second conductivity type; a drain regiondoped with dopants of the second conductivity type; a drain extensionregion; a gate electrode adjacent to the channel region; and a fieldplate disposed adjacent to the drain extension region, the channelregion being disposed in a first portion of a ridge, the drain extensionregion being disposed in a second portion of the ridge, the field platebeing disposed adjacent to at least two sidewalls of the ridge.
 26. Thesemiconductor device according to claim 25, further comprising aninsulating material disposed between the gate electrode and the fieldplate and a field dielectric layer between the field plate and the drainextension region, a thickness of the insulating material measuredparallel to the first main surface being larger than a thickness of thefield dielectric layer measured perpendicularly to the first mainsurface.